Dean Ryan says he is "flattered" to be linked with a role with England but says the Rugby Football Union's main objective should be to install a figurehead who has the right "vision" moving towards the 2015 World Cup.

With current manager Martin Johnson`s future up in the air after a disappointing World Cup, and changes expected to be made at a number of levels at the RFU, several names have been mentioned as potential candidates to help reshape the national team.

Former England internationals Will Carling and Brian Moore have called for Ryan, now working in the media having left Gloucester in the summer, to be drafted in as a specialist forwards coach.

Ryan, who won six England caps during his career, is playing down such talk, but believes whoever is in charge, be it Johnson or someone else, has to have a clear idea of how they want the team to play.

"I think I am just a small cog in all of this," Ryan said. "I am enjoying the media work but, I enjoyed coaching immensely. It`s nice to be talked about and I am flattered but I am just a small cog. The danger in this country is we look at the top of the Premiership, see who is top and go for them.

"That does not necessarily help for continuity. We need the person at the very top to shape a vision for English rugby, going to the 2015 World Cup, and those under him to share it.

"There are a lot of reviews going on at the minute, but they`re not going to tell us anything we don`t already know.

"What we need to do is find a figurehead who can give us the vision that we need going towards the 2015 World Cup."